Wrestling fans soak up the Expoland prematch atmosphere

FISHERSVILLE — Wrestling fans made a day and night of it at Augusta Expoland on Saturday.

Eddy McDaniel did more than attend AWE Wrestling Night of the Legends at Expoland that night.

The Roanoke man waited in line for more than hour in the late afternoon to get his picture taken with retired female wrestler Amy "Lita" Dumas.

"It was excellent. It made my day,'' said McDaniel.

McDaniel said he admired Lita's professionalism as a wrestler and the way she carries herself in general.

McDaniel's brother, Dragon, accompanied him to the Night of Legends. Dragon McDaniel was like many who attended Saturday night's event — a visitor from out of state. He drove to Virginia from Chambersburg, Pa.

"I'm anxious to find out who Kevin Nash's mystery partner is," he said.
Dragon McDaniel said he once worked at the Richmond Coliseum and got to know many of the wrestlers personally.

The ardent fans showed up at Expoland hours before the real show was to start to get the autographs and pictures of their favorite wrestlers. Some posed with Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer, the two wrestlers were scheduled to face off in the ring later.

When the fans were not waiting to get pictures and autographs, they visited vendors to buy wrestling memorabilia.

Augusta Expoland was transformed with a black background surrounding the bleachers and seating.

Travis Bolton traveled to Expoland from Pendleton County, W.Va. He waited to get Lita and Nash's autographs and pictures.

"I can't wait to meet these guys. It's a sport. It's entertainment,'' Bolton said. "I will be 100 years old and still watching."

Traveling from just outside of Charlotte was Mike Steele, a wrestling fan for 35 years. He is so hardcore as a fan, he planned to drive the four hours back home after the event ended Saturday night.

"If it is four or five hours driving range ,I will go see it,'' said Steele, who has traveled to Tennessee and Myrtle Beach to watch wrestling. He also has a personal connection.

He is friends with one of the wrestlers on Saturday night's card, Robert Gibson of the Rock N Roll Express.

"It is good, clean entertainment,'' Steele said of wrestling.

He said one of highlights for him Saturday night would be to watch the ongoing feud between wrestlers Nash and Ricky Morton.

The crowd was not all from out of town. Tonya Balser of Waynesboro said she grew up watching wrestling and looked forward to seeing Nash in the ring.

"He is tall and sexy. What more can you say,'' Balser said.